Apr 2022 – Oct 2022 · 6 mos · India

• Academic Dean at Khyati School of Design

May 2021 – Aug 2021 · 3 mos · India

• Collaborated in the design and coordination of an exploratory lab involving multiple stakeholders to explore possibilities to create participatory art using bamboo for the upcoming Commonwealth games in London.

Nov 2018 – Dec 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Ahmedabad

• Adujnct Associate Professor at the Faculty of Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.

Aug 2016 – Apr 2018 · 1 yr 8 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

• Design of low-cost bamboo cradle and textile sensory toy for base of the pyramid infants in India. Overseeing of prototyping and connecting with vendors. Compliance with international safety guidelines.

Apr 2016 – Apr 2018 · 2 yrs · New Delhi Area, India

• Design and prototyping of sustainability-aligned furniture

Nov 2015 – Jan 2016 · 2 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

• Overview and analysis of current scenario vis-a-vis market opportunities for bamboo craft, furniture and shoots which are being/may be produced by BAIF-Dhruva. Easy-to-understand report on the study.

Jul 2015 – Jan 2016 · 6 mos · Ahmedabad

• Design and fabrication of customized sustainable interior elements for the 1000 islands resort in consultation with the 1000 Island Styling Consultant. The elements included brass, bamboo and terracotta mobile installations for the spa, reception and retail areas, and table-top decor elements for the rooms.

Jun 2015 – Jun 2015 · 0 mo · Betul, Madhya Pradesh

• Conducted Need Assessment Survey for bamboo artisan cluster in Betul district in MP. Tasks included a) study and identification of the raw material available locally, b) study of socio-economic profile of the traditional and non- traditional bamboo artisans and other bamboo stakeholders in the study area with their background, c) current status and future scopeCraft Documentation of the Bamboo artisans in the study area, d) bird eye's view of the value chain of bamboo artifacts in the study area, focusing from procurement to marketing, e) identification of at least 50 bamboo artisans who will be a part of the training program in phase three of the project implementation.

Feb 2015 – Apr 2015 · 2 mos · Waghai, Gujarat

• Conducted Need Assessment Study and design workshop for BAIF-DHRUVA's project, funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, focussed on promoting bamboo-based livelihood for bamboo growers and users in Dangs District of South Gujarat. Tasks included training and introduction of market-based new bamboo products based on the artisans existing capacity and skill-set. Artisans were also trained on standardization and finishing techniques in order to better their existing product line.

Aug 2014 – Nov 2015 · 1 yr 3 mos · Gujarat

• Interior design of rooms-including plan, furniture, accessories, textiles, and civil work- for Rann Riders, a premier eco-Resort, set among wetlands at the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch. Each element of the rooms has been designed in accordance with ecologically, economically, culturally and sustainable norms. The furniture and several of the accessories have been custom designed and fabrication has been overseen in order to provide livelihood to marginalized artisans.

Aug 2014 – Oct 2014 · 2 mos · Tinsukia Area, India

• Conducting a design awareness programme (DAP) in Tinsukia. Developing a holistic map of MSME clusters and units. Generating design information about products, market scenario, technology, communication, research & development, and various industrial functions along with human factor study for ergonomics, safety, convenience,learning and skill up gradation through design research. Providing design remedies for identified opportunities through design clinic workshop.

May 2014 – Jan 2015 · 8 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

• Proposal writing, coordination with different project agencies and stakeholders, liasoning, reporting and communicating with the donor for INHAF's project which focuses on the Kotwalias—the traditional bamboo working community of Gujarat.
• This project aimed to address systemic issues—including distress migration, livelihoods, the craft-industrialization divide, paucity of well designed affordable bamboo housing, and respect for the BOP client—through the design of 3 bamboo furnished bamboo structures.

Apr 2014 – Jul 2014 · 3 mos · Bhopal and Ahmedabad

• Study and compilation of existing literature, research, content generation, editing and graphic design for the Vision document for the Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission. Liaisoning with MPSBM resource persons for information collation.Generation of Action plan in consultation with MPSBM's Mission Director.

Jul 2013 – Aug 2013 · 1 mo · Hanoi, Vietnam

• Sustainable Product Development, branding, strategy and operationalization mechanisms in the handicrafts, textile and furniture sectors, as part of the EU SWITCH-Asia project “Sustainable Product Innovation” (SPIN).

Jun 2013 – Jun 2013 · 0 mo · Agartala

• Design and development of bamboo spa products with sustainable production to consumption chains for a low-skilled weaving cluster in Churilam, Tripura.

Mar 2013 – Present · 13 yrs 2 mos · India

• Member of the Technical Committee for the World Bamboo Congresses held since 2013. For over 2 decades the WBC as a series of Sessions & Demonstrations has grown to attract at least 400 participants from more than 30 countries around the world, including world-renowned experts in bamboo design, construction, and architecture.

Nov 2012 – Mar 2013 · 4 mos · India and Vietnam

• Development of baseline survey to study sustainability practices and information in project linked SMEs, develop sustainability assessment methodology using CBI export-audit methodology, conduct assessment in collaboration with CBI experts.

Aug 2012 – Jun 2013 · 10 mos · Vietnam

• Development of branding scheme for SME's in the Handicraft sector in Vietnam, including development of sustainability assessment criteria, methodology and communication scheme. This included a sustainability label, and mark of excellence for sustainable Vietnamese craft with accompanying manual for easy communication and implementation.

Dec 2011 – Apr 2012 · 4 mos · Hanoi, Vietnam

• Resource assessment, design and development, technical backstopping for SME’s in bamboo and rattan, water hyacinth and hand-made paper sectors. Sustainable branding assessment mechanism and strategy for Vietnamese SMEs linked to stakeholder partners.

Oct 2011 – Jun 2012 · 8 mos · Vietnam

• International Consultant on Sustainable Product Development in the handicrafts, textile and furniture sectors, as part of the EU SWITCH-Asia project “Sustainable Product Innovation” (SPIN). Providing expert advice and input on the handicraft, furniture and textile sectors in the company-projects including product development, innovation, sustainability, knowledge of and access to European markets for export products, commercial aspects and export chain management aspects.

Jan 2011 – Apr 2011 · 3 mos · Vietnam

• Resource assessment, design and development, technical backstopping in the area of sustainability and bamboo and rattan value chains and report.

Mar 2010 – Dec 2010 · 9 mos · Ahmedabd

• Diagnostic Study for Bamboo Cluster at South Gujarat for viability of bamboo based enterprises for the Kotwalia tribal cluster and enterprise development recommendations thereon.

Jan 2010 – Jun 2010 · 5 mos · Bangladesh

• Scoping study for UNDP’s Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility in Bangladesh on (a) Bamboo, rattan and other NTFP resources, (b) assessing communities / beneficiaries, (c) scope the existing state of support institutions and design local institutions for backstop supports, (d) market study, (e) study on production, (f) support to production, (g) financing and (h) policy preparation

Nov 2009 – Present · 16 yrs 6 mos

Oct 2009 – Present · 16 yrs 7 mos

• Rhizome is India's first multidisciplinary sustainability-design studio founded in 2009. The studio works towards achieving the fine balance between development, sustainability and commercial viability. Rhizome has 3 verticals: It's eponymous sustainable luxury label Rhizome centers on handcrafted furniture. Baka is Rhizome's sustainable jewelry label which works in silver and semi precious stones. Rhizome's third vertical is it's consultancies in the area of the complete spectrum of design support for sustainable design, including product and system design, prototyping, streamlining production protocols, technology development, market studies, and branding.

Sep 2009 – Present · 16 yrs 8 mos

Sep 2009 – Sep 2009 · 0 mo · Ahmedabad

• Co-founded Tapini Bamboo Development Center (TBDC), an NGO dedicated to consolidating the bamboo sector in India. TBDC produces products designed by Rhizome under the label Bamboo Canopy.

Nov 2006 – Oct 2009 · 2 yrs 11 mos

• Coordination of development of networks of technical experts and poor producers in member countries with INBAR projects, facilitation of cross learning and twinning linkages across INBAR LD projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, technically backstopping of Action Research Sites, facilitation and support to the development of bamboo based enterprises, development of strategies to address issues of up scaling, development of product families and production systems for ARS s in line with market demand and opportunities, development and documentation of gender friendly production systems, management of Global Design Center, liaisoning with potential collaborators.

Aug 2004 – Nov 2006 · 2 yrs 3 mos

• INBAR Developing Countries Focal Point for Global Marketing Project to Link Poor Producers with Developed Country Markets
• Developing country focal point representation and presentation in Florence, Italy, improvement of targeting of products to markets by developing linkages between poor producers from project to richer consumers in Europe, innovating new designs/products and solving bottlenecks, coordination with developing countries and developed country focal point, creation of a catalogue of products produced in INBAR projects, creation of designer sourcebook, proposal writing, innovation of new sales strategies, project strategy. Italy and India.

May 2004 – Aug 2006 · 2 yrs 3 mos

• Coordination, Product Design, Training, Capacity building, Market assessment and linkages, and Introduction of Process flow for the IGCDEP-GTZ-INBAR project in Himachal Pradesh.
• Enterprise development , project strategy, market potential study, market linkages, assessment of opportunities and limitations of local species in terms of production and design, setting up of consolidation agency and mechanism, identification and creation of institutional and other supports and linkages, awareness building, identification of beneficiaries, management and monitoring of group dynamics, training of trainers, introduction of small machines, development of new and innovative bamboo products, exploration of various natural pest and fungicide treatments, exploration of various natural and synthetic dyeing techniques, development and field testing of appropriate tools for bamboo working, development of appropriate finishing techniques, skill training and capacity building programs in the area of interlaced, split based, woven and whole bamboo products, introduction and training on process flow for project staff and communities, compilation of archival matter, documentation. Palampur, India.

Sep 2002 – Mar 2005 · 2 yrs 6 mos

• Member of multi-disciplinary INBAR team conducting mission to scope potentials for bamboo in the new state of Uttaranchal in India. Headed scoping study for design and development, and compiled this for the final Uttaranchal State Bamboo Mission Report.